Sai Combat on the ZX Spectrum 48K !!

We've covered a few 8 bit fighting games on the ZX Spectrum recently. The Way of the Tiger, Fighting Warrior and Kung Fu Master.

This time I looked at a karate game called Sai Combat. This game was published by Mirrosoft in 1986 and then later re-released by Silverbird Software. I'm pleased to say that out of the other fighters already mentioned, in my opinion, Sai Combat is the best.

You play the role of a novice karate fellow (I'm sure this is the right terminology) and must progress up the belts by displaying your skills against increasingly difficult opponents. You begin as a humble white belt, then must advance all the way through eight ranks to black belt. Once black is achieved, you then have to progress through the eight DAN levels.

Sixteen opponents then !!

Each stage, you're fighting using a weapon... or as I like to call it, a pointy stick. Apologies to karate experts out there. The animation is good and there are a lot of different martial arts moves to master. Taking the time to learn the various moves both defencive and offencive will bring you the most reward. Button-mashing will only take you so far as I sort of proved!

The background changes after each fight which is a nice touch and gives you a sense you are getting somewhere when you pull off a succession of wins. Really incentivising you to see what the next screen will look like and builds the longevity which is mightily important.

Two dragons either side represent how much punishment you and your opponent have taken during the fight. If your dragon goes green, you're down. If the opponents dragon goes red then he hits the floor. Typically it takes three falls to progress to the next belt.

Sai Combat is one of the better speccy fighting games out there in retro land and as such, is well worth tracking down. Good attention to detail and addictive gameplay if you're into this particular genre of gaming.

Have a click on the video review above. See how I got on !!!

Nick :o)

Road Rash II on the Sega Genesis / Megadrive - a great sequel ?

A short while ago we looked at Road Rash on the Sega Mega Drive and the verdict was, it was pretty awesome. I enjoyed playing it so much. This ground-breaking racing/fighting game was released by EA in 1991. Knowing there was also two sequels, it seemed only right, I'd get to those also. Sensed there was lot more fun yet to be had with this adventure.

This time it was the turn of Road Rash II published two years after the original game, hitting the shelves in 1993. The game was also published by EA.
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Hopes were high after the success of the first one. I was hyped to maximum which isn't always a good thing. Sets you up for disappointment. Remember the Star Wars Phantom Menace movie? Ok, sorry if you'd blocked that film out your memory. Bits of it are okay right? The Podrace... the Darth Maul fight scenes. Think I'm going off on a tangent...

Erm anyway, is the second Road Rash game as good as the first, better or worse?

The sequel is instantly recognisable as Road Rash. They don't drift a huge distance from the winning formula. The game admittedly uses a lot of the original sprites and is clearly based off the same gaming engine. Thankfully it does build from the impressive first outing and offers more.

There are a numerous bikes to save up for by earning cash from races. These gradually increase in horsepower through Classes ranging from Light to Super bikes. You just know as a kid you would have played and played to get the money for the fastest bike in town.

There's a new set of tracks, more aggressive opponents and a variety of weapons to upset your fellow competitors with. Nothing can beat the fun of leaping fifty feet into the air, landing on the road and hitting another rider over the head perfectly with a big chain. The chain is my personal favourite.

It's all clean fun. Kind of. The occasional police officer on the road won't find it very amusing and try to bust you. The aim is to finish in the top through on every track to progress to the next difficulty level. Your bike can get wrecked along the way or you can end up in the hospital if you're not too careful. These are mean streets. Funny though!

This worthy sequel maintains the enjoyment and addictiveness of the first game and adds yet another superb layer. A really really enjoyable game. Shear brilliance !!!

Have a watch of the video review hosted on the channel via Youtube.

Will have to look at Road Rash 3 very soon. What a series so far !!

Nick :o)

Tennis on the Atari 2600 !!

Anyone for Tennis? Have recently reviewed it on the Atari 2600. Hooray!

What can we say about this one then? Well it's as retro as they come. Published by Activision back in 1981.

Before this, all that was really available in terms of computer Tennis was the classic Pong. Tennis on the Atari 2600 is light years ahead. Well a few years anyway. Technology was moving quickly and still is really.

You take charge of a pink stick man. I can assure you he is not naked as the colour suggests. They wouldn't allow that at Wimbledon. You must beat the blue computer stick man at the opposite end of the grass court.

It's impossible to knock the ball out of bounds or into the net, but somehow this doesn't really matter. There are no serving or court lines either so it is just about hitting the ball back each time. Anywhere will do. The net appears as a solid white line. Come on, this is 1981 folks.

Takes a while to get used to, but all and all this game is a fun affair. There are two difficulty levels of play. You can pull off backhands, forehands and rush to the net when you feel it appropriate. But be mindful though, rushing in may leave you prone to a devilish passing shot from the computer.

Although there are no court markings, the game does stick to the rules and point scoring system of Tennis. First to 6 games wins. You can have some great rallies with this. Although archaic by today standards, those into retro gaming and the history of it will love this as I did.

Tennis with stick men form 1981? You cannot be serious. Well yes... we can... kind of.

Check out the review to see if I managed to win a single game. It was my mission! 

Nick :o) -  (From Youtube Channel njenkin)

The Channel has now covered over 450 ZX Spectrum Games !!!

It seems a ridiculous figure, but we are there. The Channel has now covered over 450 ZX Spectrum games!

The ZX Spectrum was the first computer I owned as a child. It's always great fun looking back at these games and also coming across ones I never knew existed. The good and the bad. The ZX Spectrum back catalogue is an 8 Bit historic treasure trove with new games still being written for it over 30 years later. The popularity of the machine never seems to diminish.

Below is a recap vid of the last 50 games covered. You can access all the others on all systems covered via the Reviewed Games Playlist.

The next stop will be 500 and we're already well on the way. If you haven't already seen the Channel, then drop by and say hello. It's all about having fun, de-stressing and sharing gaming memories.

Maybe the ZX Spectrum live on forever !!!

Nick  :o)

ROAD RASH on the Sega Genesis / Sega Mega Drive

Recently reviewed this wonderful motorcycle racer on the Channel.  I found it to be awfully good fun indeed. Road Rash was published on the Sega Mega Drive by EA in 1991 and was an instant winner. It was to spawn further games in the series. Check out the Youtube review on below.

What separates Road Rash from other cycle racers?

Well, you can brutally punch opponents from their bike whilst overtaking and this ramps the fun up to ridiculous levels. It's not strictly gentlemanly behaviour, but this is all-out arcade action. Take no prisoners !!!

Oncoming traffic, crossroads and some ludicrous jumps add to the excitement.

Frame rate could be slightly better, but the playability is there. Like all good games, the difficulty learning curve is perfect. Your first time round the various circuits your opponents won't attack, allowing you to get used to racing.

Later however, they're  a lot more aggressive, but you'll be more than ready for them by this point.
An excellent game all round. I look forward to reviewing future games in the series. Highly Recommended!

Nick  :o)

Lamborghini Time in Need For Speed Hot Pursuit.

Hello!

This main blog has now moved to the Patreon site at PATREON.

Will still post the odd game link here too though. Potentially have been looking to do a bit of live streaming. Below is a kind of test vid which was not posted live.

Is Need For Speed Hot Pursuit on the PS3. The game was published by Criterion in 2010. Took out the Lamborghini Countach, the Diablo and the Elemento. Plenty of carnage took place!!

Love this game so much. Is heaps of fun.

Check out the Youtube channel and Patreon sites. It's all about easing every day stresses. Let the good times roll !!

Nick  :o)

Hello !!! Has been a year since the last Blog update.

Wowsers!

Is one year since this blog was updated !!!

Although the Blog has been very quiet the last 12 months, the Youtube Channel has been extremely active !!!!

Unbelievably njenkin is now nearing 2000 videos. Since the last blog update, due to multiple requests, it has also started to cover additional retro systems.

Before it covered games for the ZX Spectrum,  Commodore Amiga, GBA and the occasional PlayStation game.

Additional systems covered now include, the Commodore 64, Atari 2600 and the Sega Genesis / Mega drive.

If you haven't visited for a while, I'm glad to say things are still alive. The Channel is now partly supported by Patreon. 

It has made sense to continue Blog updates on the main Patreon site. Gaming updates will be posted here too, but supporting Patrons will have access to additional hidden posts on the main Patreon site.

Hope to see you over on Youtube to join the conversation and share good memories. One of the latest vids uploaded was Chuckie Egg on the Commodore 64. Enjoy !!

Hen House Harry needs to go on a diet I think. 😜

Nick